RCC establishes new partnerships with Appalachian State, Wesleyan University

By Staff Report, posted Feb 17, 2025 on BizFayetteville.com

Robeson Community College has signed new agreements ensuring guaranteed admissions for students transferring to Appalachian State and NC Wesleyan University. These new agreements will bring RCC's University Transfer Partnership to 10, offering students more opportunities and options in pursuing their bachelor's degree. Photo provided by RCC.

Robeson Community College has established two new partnerships with universities located in North Carolina – Appalachian State University in Boone and Wesleyan University in Rocky Mount.

“We are so very excited to add these two great institutions to our growing list of university transfer partners,” stated Dr. LaRonda Lowery, the assistant vice president of instruction and student support services, in a press release. “This brings our total university partnerships to 10 colleges and universities.”

The new articulation agreements guarantee admission for RCC university transfer students who select the university as their choice for transfer upon the completion of the associate of arts or the associate of science degree. Students must apply to the pathway partnership programs and be accepted while they are enrolled at Robeson Community College. For eligibility, students should contact the advisor assigned to their program.

“[Guaranteed admission] means that as a student at RCC, once you’ve been accepted into a university partnership program and you complete the requirements for a degree, you will be accepted into university and you cannot be denied admission,” stated Lowery in a press release.

Appalachian University has a long-standing tradition for welcoming transfer students to its campus. In fact, transfer students make up a fourth of its student body population, accepting almost 2000 students each year to complete a bachelor’s degree. Through the Aspire Appalachian agreement, App State seeks to eliminate barriers for those seeking to obtain higher education credentials.

As Joey Hinson, a psychology instructor at RCC and App State partnership advisor, points out, students get much more than just guaranteed admission through this agreement.

“With the Aspire Appalachian Pathway program students will also receive academic advising by App State to ensure a seamless transition, access financial aid advising and planning resources, receive the ability to register early for premier transfer events, and will be given priority

consideration for the $1000 Appalachian Excellence Scholarship,” stated Hinson in a press release. “If any students at Robeson Community College plan to transfer to App, they should strongly consider applying to this program as soon as possible.”

Appalachian State University offers over 100 majors, of which 19 can be earned completely online.

North Carolina Wesleyan University affords students an opportunity to earn a degree in an environment that is personal, practical, and purpose-driven. Through its community college transfer program, Wesleyan has tailored its approach with the adult learner in mind. That’s why Wesleyan designed the partnership for seamless transfer, which they hope ensures the smoothest transition for students from Robeson to NCWU.

“With the Wesleyan Works Pathway, transfer credits are maximized, giving students the most credit for prior learning, allowing you to complete your degree faster,” stated Ursula Adams, the university transfer instructor who oversees the Wesleyan partnership at RCC, in a press release. “Students will receive automatic acceptance and can apply to NCWU at the same time they apply to RCC, granting a pathway for earning an associate degree and bachelor’s degree.”

NC Wesleyan University offers 11 programs of study through its transfer program – accounting, business administration, computer information systems, criminal justice, elementary education, healthcare administration, marketing, nursing, organizational leadership, psychology and supply chain management.

“Students who choose the Wesleyan Works pathway can apply to NCWU at no charge, all application fees are waived through this agreement,” Adams added in a press release. “While they are at RCC, they will also receive a NCWU student ID card and have access to all events on the main campus in Rocky Mount, as well as enjoy join academic advising and financial aid counseling to maximize savings.”

In addition to App State and NC Wesleyan University, RCC also has signed guaranteed admission agreements with UNC Chapel Hill, NC State University, UNC Wilmington, East Carolina University, Fayetteville State University, Methodist University, Lees-McRae University and UNC Pembroke.

For more information on transfer partnerships, visit RCC’s website at https://www.robeson.edu/universitytransfer/startwithrcc/

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